The Editor, Sir:

Can Jamaicans grow in strength, flexibility, creativeness and productivity? Yes we can!

David Tenenbaum has an interesting article online (at 'the Why files') where he compares the way manufacturers improve and adapt "a line" with the dynamic nature of spider silk.

"... [N]ature has done the same with spider silk - 'expanding the line' with silk that's strong and super stretchy, or strong and inelastic, or stretchy and sticky." He writes, "Take a little spider - almost any spider - and once you get over that silly, 'Eek a spider!'repulsion, you'll discover it makes seven kinds of silk - one to wrap its prey, one to wrap its eggs, and five to construct the web itself." (Some Spider! "Caught in the web". - http://whyfiles.org/shorties/077spidersilk/.)

Caribbean Icon

This 'expanding of the line' is comparable to the work of Jamaican chemist Dr John Ewen who, in 2002, received the most prestigious American National Medal of Technology Award from the president for his research in 'metallocenes' which revolutionised the mutimillion-dollar plastic industry, facilitating the manipulation of polyethylene and polypropylene plastics.

I encourage everyone to find out more at a 'Caribbean Icons' site at http://caribbean-icons.org/innovation/john-ewen.htm.

Success requires dedicated hard work! This concept was reinforced in a conversation I had with Sherone Simpson and Usain Bolt last year November at the ninth annual Caribbean Hall of Fame awards where both related to me - in the middle of some empty reserved seating rows - the necessity of their daily predawn training at the track.

Tricks and treats

We need to review our God-honouring principles as a people (especially over things like Halloween) and implement them over non-progressive subcultures.

Culprits will be caught in their own web if they think they can operate as if they are Anancy the spider - with his tricks and treats. If we are to be a strong, flexible, creative and productive people, we need to kill the Anancy business of deceit and nobly network principles of wisdom, diligence, honesty and innovation to foster productivity with all things good in Jamaica, land we love.

I am, etc.,

RYAN O'NEIL SEATON

insignia7@msn.com

Kingston 11